Conservatory or pergola: what's the difference?

What is the difference between a conservatory and a pergola? The former is an enclosed structure, while the latter is more open to the outside world. When it comes to deciding whether to go for a conservatory or a pergola, your heart is set on one or the other. Follow our guide to make your choice.

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The conservatory

When we think of a conservatory, we usually think of an enclosed glass space set against a wall of the house or in one of its corners. Conservatories are increasingly seen as additional rooms, whatever their function: kitchen, living room, bedroom or swimming pool enclosure.

It's a real living space in a house, an extension that can be used in both summer and winter. So if you want to use your conservatory all year round, you need to think about its thermal insulation and heating. So many technical options to consider. Other options can of course be added to dress it up as you wish.

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The pergola

A pergola, on the other hand, is often seen as a small garden structure that supports climbing plants. Attached to the house and made up of columns supporting a light roof, it can cover a terrace and provide a protective overhang over the garden. Under your made-to-measure aluminium pergola, you'll find shade and coolness in summer, sheltered from the wind and rain in mid-season...

In short, the pergola will serve as an open conservatory, just like a porch. Akena offers made-to-measure aluminium pergolas with fixed roofs, adjustable slats or retractable roofs. You can discover all these models, from the fixed-roof pergola to the bioclimatic pergola, not forgetting the AIR BIO 365 pergola with its modular roof.

Conservatories and pergolas can be used to create outdoor spaces that are just as pleasant as indoor ones. In both cases, the roof provides protection against rain or bad weather. And it can be covered to a greater or lesser extent to control the amount of sunlight, so you can make the most of this extension to your home, depending on the season.

Thanks to today's technology, both conservatories and pergolas can accommodate a living room, or even a kitchen, even if they are not used all year round in the case of a pergola. Above all, both open onto the outside, providing a pleasant link between the house and the garden.

From a technical point of view, these two structures may or may not be attached to the house. The materials used are increasingly easy to maintain: aluminium is often recommended for the uprights of both conservatories and pergolas!

A third option is possible: combining a pergola and a conservatory! Akena can design and install a made-to-measure space, combining its conservatory and pergola models. You can enjoy the pleasure of a conservatory all year round, with the protective overhang of a pergola outside.

AKENA has developed an innovative range of conservatories: the bioclimatic conservatory and pergola range. This Conservatory pergola combines the advantages of a real living space with an external cover with adjustable slats. Shaded to your liking and discreet, it's perfect for fine weather. And when winter returns, the conservatory protects you from the cold while giving you the feeling of being outside thanks to its superb picture windows.

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Now that you know the differences between conservatories and pergolas, and what they have in common, you can make your choice. Don't forget that you'll also need to take into account the administrative formalities, which can be more restrictive for a conservatory than for a pergola. Only the former counts as an extension from a legal point of view.